On May 4, as mixed martial artists from Japan and around the world fought under the bright lights of Tokyo Dome during Rizin Fighting Federation¡¯s Otoko Matsuri event, a decorated American heavyweight sat in the front row as a mere spectator ¡ª or so it appeared.

Fresh off a film set with Dwayne ¡°The Rock¡± Johnson and Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader patiently awaited his cue to deliver the news that he and the promotion had kept quiet until that night. Later, between fights, he entered the ring along with Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara and made a promise to those in attendance and watching around the world.

¡°I want to fight,¡± Bader said into a microphone with a smile as he shook Sakakibara¡¯s hand. ¡°One hundred percent, I¡¯ll be your champion by January.¡± And with that, the stage was set for Rizin¡¯s annual New Year¡¯s Eve fight card at Saitama Super Arena, with Bader scheduled to take on the winner of the promotion¡¯s heavyweight grand prix.

Bader¡¯s announcement was quite the guarantee to make, especially in a sport as unpredictable as MMA, and particularly at heavyweight, a division known across combat sports for delivering fireworks and split-second outcomes. But if anyone has proven their ability to rise to the occasion throughout their career, both as a fighter and now an actor, it¡¯s Bader.

¡°Whenever I have something new, it¡¯s a weird feeling. I don¡¯t get as stressed. I¡¯m excited,¡± he told The Japan Times. ¡°It¡¯s such an honor to fight in Japan.¡± For Bader, the 42-year-old Idaho-born veteran of 39 professional fights, 2025 is shaping up to be quite the year, both in reality and on the big screen. In addition to his signing with Rizin, he co-stars alongside Johnson and Blunt in the A24 film ¡°The Smashing Machine,¡± which is due for release in cinemas in the U.S. on Friday. (A Japan release date has yet to be announced).

Written and directed by Benny Safdie, the film, a biopic based on the personal and fighting life of retired mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, received a 15-minute standing ovation following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 1, and sees Bader inhabit the role of UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman, making for an impressive first acting credit.

¡°It was a totally different world. I was scared to death at the beginning,¡± Bader recalls. ¡°But that¡¯s what I love. That¡¯s why I got into MMA. I was nervous, like I was heading into a fight, but then after that first scene I thought, okay, I can do this.¡±

Despite some debutant nerves, Bader quickly adapted to life on set by channeling the competitive mindset that he...